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The D.C. area gets another Halal option opening this week in Merrifield.
The D.C. area gets another Halal option opening this week in Merrifield.
Yelp

Where to Go for Halal Food Around D.C.

The nation's capital has loads of the cuisine

by Rachel Pendergrass
3 comments / new
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The D.C. area gets another Halal option opening this week in Merrifield.
| Yelp
by Rachel Pendergrass
3 comments / new

D.C. brings has one of the highest number of halal restaurants per capita of the 50 largest U.S. cities, and it's no wonder, given the city's multicultural bent. Halal is an arabic word that means "lawful," and in the culinary realm, halal cuisine is any food or drink that conforms to Islamic dietary guidelines set forth in the Quran.

Halal food enthusiasts have a number of resources out there to help them find the best halal eats in town, from a halal-only food review website to even an app. In the D.C. area, there are kabob houses, socially-conscious cafes, and even a banh mi restaurant.

(Note: There is an official halal certification process restaurants can go through via the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, should they choose​. Not all of the restaurants on this list have gone through that process, but Eater has confirmed with the ownership of each restaurant that their food meets halal guidelines.

Got a halal stop worth the trek not on the map? Send a note to dc@eater.com.

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Afghan Grill

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Here, family recipes have been in the family for generations. The menu is full of Afghan dishes made with ingredients from local farmers. All is halal here.

2309 Calvert St NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 234-5095
(202) 234-5095
Yelp

Afghan Kabob House

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With authentic Afghan cuisine and free delivery within five miles of the location, anyone’s house can become the Kabob House. Every option on the menu is halal.

2045 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 294-9999
(703) 294-9999
Yelp

Also featured in:

Busboys and Poets (Multiple locations)

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D.C. food-scene staple Busboys and Poets was created by Anas "Andy"’ Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist and restaurateur. He introduced halal chicken to all locations in November 2010, five years after the first one opened. The chicken they serve there is still halal.

1025 5th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 387-7638
(202) 387-7638
Yelp

Cafe Ole

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Great for the indecisive soul, Cafe Ole boasts over 30 different meze and tapas dishes. They also boast something even rarer for D.C.: cheap and plentiful parking. Cafe Ole's ownership confirmed that dishes are halal except those with ham.

4000 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 244-1330
(202) 244-1330
Yelp

Also featured in:

Grand Trunk

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Grand Trunk may be the self-­proclaimed "world’s first South Asian American fast food brand," but they don’t lack glamor. The two-level luxurious restaurant bedecked with chandeliers serves up some of the city’s best naan 24 ­hours a day. Everything in this spot is halal.

641 Indiana Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 347-3293
(202) 347-3293
Yelp

Also featured in:

Mayur Kabab House

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Mayur Kabab isn’t just a meal that tastes good, it does good. Owner Kazi Mannan makes extra food every Sunday and delivers it to the Georgetown Ministry Center, where he serves it to the local homeless population. Everything is halal here.

1108 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 637-9770
(202) 637-9770
Yelp

Sacrificial Lamb

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The name may be a bit visceral, but with low prices, quick service, and late hours, Sacrificial Lamb is a great halal takeout option, and 100 percent of dishes are halal.

1704 R St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 797-2736
(202) 797-2736

Simply Banh Mi

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This simple restaurant sits in a Georgetown basement — don't judge it by its website. It’s a good idea to go early, as once they run out of bread, there’s simply no more bahn mi. They do, however, serve pho, and rice, noodle, and salad bowls also.

1624 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 333-5726
(202) 333-5726
Yelp

Also featured in:

SKWR Kabobline

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This fast-casual restaurant is basically the Chipotle of kabobs. Everything here is halal except for the meatballs.

1400 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 682-1717
(202) 682-1717
Yelp

Also featured in:

The Halal Guys (Multiple Locations)

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This year, the ­beloved New York-based food­ truck is going the brick­-and-­mortar route and landing in the D.C. area. Earlier this month, locations in Merrifield and Springfield opened doors. Next up is a shop on H Street and 15 other locations.

2686 Gallows Rd, Vienna, Virginia 22180
Yelp

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Afghan Grill

2309 Calvert St NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Here, family recipes have been in the family for generations. The menu is full of Afghan dishes made with ingredients from local farmers. All is halal here.

2309 Calvert St NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 234-5095
(202) 234-5095
Yelp

Afghan Kabob House

2045 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

With authentic Afghan cuisine and free delivery within five miles of the location, anyone’s house can become the Kabob House. Every option on the menu is halal.

2045 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 294-9999
(703) 294-9999
Yelp

Busboys and Poets (Multiple locations)

1025 5th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

D.C. food-scene staple Busboys and Poets was created by Anas "Andy"’ Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist and restaurateur. He introduced halal chicken to all locations in November 2010, five years after the first one opened. The chicken they serve there is still halal.

1025 5th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 387-7638
(202) 387-7638
Yelp

Cafe Ole

4000 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

Great for the indecisive soul, Cafe Ole boasts over 30 different meze and tapas dishes. They also boast something even rarer for D.C.: cheap and plentiful parking. Cafe Ole's ownership confirmed that dishes are halal except those with ham.

4000 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 244-1330
(202) 244-1330
Yelp

Grand Trunk

641 Indiana Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Grand Trunk may be the self-­proclaimed "world’s first South Asian American fast food brand," but they don’t lack glamor. The two-level luxurious restaurant bedecked with chandeliers serves up some of the city’s best naan 24 ­hours a day. Everything in this spot is halal.

641 Indiana Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 347-3293
(202) 347-3293
Yelp

Mayur Kabab House

1108 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Mayur Kabab isn’t just a meal that tastes good, it does good. Owner Kazi Mannan makes extra food every Sunday and delivers it to the Georgetown Ministry Center, where he serves it to the local homeless population. Everything is halal here.

1108 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 637-9770
(202) 637-9770
Yelp

Sacrificial Lamb

1704 R St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The name may be a bit visceral, but with low prices, quick service, and late hours, Sacrificial Lamb is a great halal takeout option, and 100 percent of dishes are halal.

1704 R St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 797-2736
(202) 797-2736

Simply Banh Mi

1624 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

This simple restaurant sits in a Georgetown basement — don't judge it by its website. It’s a good idea to go early, as once they run out of bread, there’s simply no more bahn mi. They do, however, serve pho, and rice, noodle, and salad bowls also.

1624 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 333-5726
(202) 333-5726
Yelp

SKWR Kabobline

1400 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

This fast-casual restaurant is basically the Chipotle of kabobs. Everything here is halal except for the meatballs.

1400 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 682-1717
(202) 682-1717
Yelp

The Halal Guys (Multiple Locations)

2686 Gallows Rd, Vienna, Virginia 22180

This year, the ­beloved New York-based food­ truck is going the brick­-and-­mortar route and landing in the D.C. area. Earlier this month, locations in Merrifield and Springfield opened doors. Next up is a shop on H Street and 15 other locations.

2686 Gallows Rd, Vienna, Virginia 22180
Yelp

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